Category: Uncategorized

  • UK Music Video Awards

    Last week I had the unexpected pleasure of attending the UK Music Video Awards.  I say unexpected as I was completely surprised by how inspiring the night was – these things are usually so dull.  It’s the awards for the all the people who make music videos and so is rather artsy, but given I spend most of my waking day watching the same slug of pop music videos, it was really great to see some of the talent that unfortunately doesn’t make it into the hi-rotation lists. There were some great videos shown (and honoured), some of my favourites… willy moon – yeah yeah (which I got to present) yeah yeah yeahs – sacrilege rudimental – not giving in (always do great vids) jon hopkins – open eye signal There were some great films but that were let down by the music, for me a great music video has to have both.  And my absolute favourite of the night was Gesaffelstein – Pursuit.

    Gesaffelstein | Pursuit from DIVISION on Vimeo.

    In music TV, unfortunately the formula is pretty simple, margins are tight and we need to hit ratings, you do that by playing the hits so a lot of stuff never gets a look in.  That said, we’re toying around with a few ideas that could unshackle us a little from always having to cover costs (or significant ones at any rate) and so we may get to be a little more experimental after all…

  • Channel 4 hires Matt Rennie to run Box TV

    Channel 4 has appointed Matt Rennie to the role of managing director for Box Television.

    Replacing Gidon Katz in the role, Rennie will be responsible for managing the entire Box TV portfolio comprised of seven music TV channels: 4Music, The Box, Kiss, Kerrang!, Magic, Heat and Smash Hits.

    Rennie said: “I’m thrilled to be offered this opportunity to join the team at Box TV. As the music industry continues to work through massive change and disruption, there are some significant challenges, but also huge opportunities to build and develop this fantastic business. I can’t wait to lead Box TV into its next phase of innovation and growth.”

    FULL ARTICLES AVAILABLE HERE:

    https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/channel-4-hires-matt-rennie-run-box-tv/1213017/

    https://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/09/24/channel-4-appoints-matt-rennie-md-box-television/

    https://advanced-television.com/2013/09/24/rennie-appointed-box-tv-md/

  • Global Radio appoint Enterprise Director

    Global Radio have hired Matt Rennie from internet TV company SeeSaw in a newly-created position of Enterprise Director.

    He joins the Capital, Heart and Classic FM owner from Monday and will oversee a team of 10 working on new revenue streams and existing partnerships.

    We’re told Matt will report to Mike Gordon, Global’s Managing Director – Commercial, and will bring together several elements of the wider Global company including the partnership with iTunes and the gaming and directory businesses. His brief will also include the development of new commercial digital and broadcast opportunities.

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/10/global-radio-appoint-enterprise-director/

  • Channel 5 content slips off SeeSaw as three execs depart

    The struggling web-TV service loses Channel 5 shows and three key executives.

    Channel 5 programmes have slipped off SeeSaw, as the struggling online TV website also suffers the blow of three key executives departing.

    Platform controller John Keeling, commercial director Matt Rennie and product director Richard Dines have all resigned from the firm, reports Paid:Content.

    The website says that some of the remaining 15 staff at SeeSaw are in talks over their future with Criterion Capital Partners, which acquired a majority stake in the firm from Arqiva last month.

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/vod/a340551/channel-5-content-slips-off-seesaw-as-three-execs-depart/ | https://advanced-television.com/2011/09/15/seesaw-on-brink/

  • Online TV service SeeSaw saved

    Online TV service SeeSaw has been saved from closure by a consortium of investors including the former Channel 4 chief executive, Michael Jackson, in a deal led by the US private equity firm that snapped up Bebo for a knockdown price.

    Criterion Capital Partners has taken a controlling stake in SeeSaw, which is owned by transmission business Arqiva, in a deal estimated to be worth well over £10m.

    The private equity firm has pulled together a group of investors from the film, TV and new media industry – including Dan Adler, a former Disney and Creative Artists Agency senior executive, who will build international relations with studios – with Arqiva retaining a 25% stake in the business and a seat on the new board.

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/14/seesaw-online-tv | https://thenextweb.com/news/uk-tv-on-demand-service-seesaw-is-saved-at-the-death

  • Don’t forget the devices…

    So everyone keeps on telling me that online video is just a fad, it’s all about getting your service on to the TV set in the living room. I’m not convinced the numbers agree. We’ve been looking at iPlayer data and benchmarking it against the penetrated user base of the devices on which you can currently access the iPlayer. When you look at the last 12 months, you can see that the TV set distribution (Virgin Media in this case) delivers about 6 views per month for every TV set viewer that could watch the iPlayer (23m views divided by 3.8m users). For games consoles, computers and smartphones/tablets (iOS), users average between 1 and 2 views per month.

    Now here the point. If you add non-TV set viewing together you get nearly as much viewing as on the TV set. What’s more is there’s a huge amount of growth potential in the non-TV set markets. Only 5m games consoles can currently access iPlayer, there are 12m that don’t have iPlayer (xBox or non-connected Wiis and PS3s) and probably some more growth after that. Smartphone/tablets have only just started (we estimate around 7m for this dataset) and only around 30% of the current online population watch TV on their computer (with still more people due to come online). TV set penetration is limited. You’re not going to get more than 2 or 3 in a home and often less than that. A total penetration of 30m-40m is probably the maximum you’ll get. If you combine all of the other devices you can now watch TV on you get a universe 4 or 5 times the size of that and if, as you can see, they watch as much TV (when combined), you shouldn’t underestimate the power of non-TV set TV viewing.

  • SeeSaw offers ad-free viewing for 99p

    Online video service SeeSaw has launched a new “NonStop” feature, giving viewers the choice to either watch their programmes free with adverts or pay a small fee to enjoy uninterrupted viewing.

    The service will launch for an introductory price of 99p until 31st of December, going up to its standard price of £2.99 per month thereafter.

    The move will see SeeSaw become the only online viewing platform to offer 4oD and Demand Five content without ads.

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.netimperative.com/2010/11/29/seesaw-offers-ad-free-viewing-for-99p/

  • SeeSaw to go International

    AMSTERDAM—Communications infrastructure and media services company Arqiva announced that it will begin licensing to third parties the VOD technology that powers its SeeSaw online TV service. 

    Matt Rennie, SeeSaw’s commercial director, told IBC delegates that having achieved more than 3 million unique visitors in its first eight months of operation, the service was “unmatched in terms of UK users.”

    He said SeeSaw now had more than 3,500 hours of free content and some 1,500 hours of paid content available.

    “What makes us unique is that as an operator we are happy for channels to handle their own branding, and ad sales for the paid element of the site-we are very broadcaster friendly.”

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/Articles/News/Featured-News/SeeSaw-to-go-International-69932.aspx

  • SeeSaw signs licensing deal with NBC Universal

    The Video on Demand firm has signed a deal with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for the UK video-on-demand rights to a broad array of NBC Universal television programming.

    Under the terms of the agreement, US series from NBC Universal will be made available to viewers at SeeSaw.com. TV fans will be able to rent individual episodes or full series from a range of shows included in the deal.

    Other shows featured in the deal include Battlestar Galactica, the re-imagined sci-fi series and award-winning comedy programmes, The Office and 30 Rock.

    Matt Rennie, commercial director, SeeSaw, says: “Our ambition is to build a world class platform which offers the best programming from both UK and international content suppliers. This deal with NBC Universal gives us another major partner with whom we can continue to drive forward and develop SeeSaw.com- I can’t wait to offer our viewers these great shows.”

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.marketingweek.com/seesaw-signs-licensing-deal-with-nbc-universal/

    ALSO HERE: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/08/19/seesaw-announces-deal-with-nbc-universal/

  • Arqiva takes on Channel 4 development chief

    Arqiva has appointed Matt Rennie, Channel 4’s business development manager for content and distribution, as commercial head of its video-on-demand service SeeSaw.

    Before joining Channel 4, Rennie was senior commercial manager at Virgin Media and business development manager at online, mobile and cable broadcaster Music Choice.

    Rennie has been appointed to the role of commercial director, despite speculation the position would be filled by Richard Knight, former strategy and distribution manager at Channel 4. Knight left Channel 4 last December to set up his own consultancy, which has recently been working with SeeSaw on projects.

    FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://www.marketingweek.com/arqiva-takes-on-channel-4-development-chief/